Fatal Road Rage Attack: Fall River Woman Sentenced to 10-12 Years in Prison for Manslaughter

FALL RIVER, MA – A Fall River woman has been sentenced to 10 to 12 years in state prison after being found guilty of manslaughter in a road rage attack that took place in 2019. Jacqueline Mendes, 36, was also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the death of Jennifery Landry, 41, of Brockton, according to the Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz’s office.

The Plymouth County jury deliberated for two days before reaching a guilty verdict. Prosecutors had requested a sentence of 13 to 17 years. Mendes was sentenced during a hearing in Superior Court, as per court records. The incident occurred on June 28, 2019, when police received multiple 911 calls reporting a stabbing at an intersection in Brockton.

Officers found Landry suffering from a stab wound to the right side of her neck and bleeding profusely. She was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead the next day. Mendes went to the Brockton Police Department about 15 minutes after the attack and admitted to the altercation with Landry, stating that there “may have been a stabbing involved.” Investigators determined that Mendes and Landry got into a traffic confrontation, leading Mendes to stab Landry with a knife before fleeing the scene.

This sentencing marked the end of a long legal process for the family of the victim, and the decision brought closure to a tragic incident that started as a simple road rage confrontation. The community hopes that this case will serve as a reminder of the consequences of unchecked anger and aggression on the road. The verdict also stands as a warning to others that violence in any form will not be tolerated.